Pavement Seal, Installation Machine And Method Of Installation

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a compressible seal for installation in joints in concrete pavement, the machine for installing the seal and the method of installation. The seal is a preformed, closed cell, elastomeric cylinder or rope. The seal defines a round cross section in its relaxed, i.e., uncompressed, state somewhat larger than the joint into which it will be installed. The installation machine is a wheeled, hand powered device having a first guide wheel which is received within the joint, an aligned installation wheel which installs the seal in the joint, a second guide wheel which ensures that the seal is at the proper depth in the joint and a pair of contra-circulating belts which feed the seal to the installation wheel.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a compressible seal for installationin pavement and more particularly a compressible seal for installationin joints in concrete pavement, the machine for installing the seal andthe method of installation.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute priorart.

Installations of concrete pavement including both those with a singlelarge dimension such as driveways and roads and those with two largedimensions such as parking lots and airport aprons expand and contractwith the ambient temperature. Such expansion or contraction willfrequently result in cracking of the concrete which, without exception,shortens the service life of the concrete. In geographic regions subjectto repeated freezing and thawing, the service life of cracked concretemay be dramatically shortened.

An accepted approach to this problem is to saw kerfs or grooves in theconcrete after it has been poured but before it is cured. These kerfs orgrooves are generally referred to in the trade as joints and expansionor contraction joints. Because the concrete is generally thinnest at thesawn joints, they act as uniform, linear crack generation sites thatcause the concrete to crack in a controlled manner and reduce oreliminate random crazing and cracking. However, the joints themselvesneed to be protected so that non-compressible materials, e.g., smallstones and foreign matter, and water do not fill them. Because thesejoints are both linear and made during the installation process, theymay be, and typically are, readily filled with tar to avoid the harmfuleffects of materials trapped in the joint and water undergoing thefreeze/thaw cycle.

The tar, itself, however, can be adversely affected by the freeze/thawcycle. For example, if water collects in the joint below the tar, afreeze cycle will slightly raise the tar and repeated freeze/thaw cycleswill force the tar out of the joint. Traffic will then wear away theprotruding tar and a small problem may quickly become prematurelydeteriorating pavement. Additionally, tar tends to become brittle aftertwo to three years of service. It will thus compress in the winter butfail to expand in the summer, thereby allowing material and water toenter and occupy the joint.

Furthermore, tar as well as many other liquid sealants, should not beinstalled when temperatures are below 45° F. (7° C.) or when moisture ispresent. This limits the conditions during which such sealants can beinstalled which may delay completion of an installation or repairproject. Finally, many sealants put a joint in tension when the concretecontracts in cold temperatures. This tension can increase the rate atwhich the concrete deteriorates.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that improvements to seals forjoints or grooves in concrete slabs would be desirable.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a compressible seal for installation injoints in concrete pavement, the machine for installing the seal and themethod of installation. The seal is a preformed, cylindrical, closedcell, elastomer. The seal preferably defines a round cross section witha diameter in its relaxed, i.e., uncompressed, state approximately 1.75times and preferably between about 1.6 and 1.9 times greater than thewidth of the joint into which it will be installed. The installationmachine is a wheeled, hand powered device having a pair of guide wheelswhich are received within the joint, an aligned installation wheel whichinstalls the seal at the proper depth in the joint and a pair ofcontra-circulating belts that feed the seal to the installation wheel.The seal of the present invention will prevent concrete pavement fromdeteriorating prematurely by preventing water and debris from enteringand occupying the sawn expansion joint.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a seal forinstallation in sawn expansion joints in concrete slabs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seal forexpansion joints in concrete slabs which extends the life of such slabs.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a sealfor expansion joints in concrete slabs which prevents entry andaccumulation of water and non-compressible material in such joints.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide amachine for installing a compressible seal in an expansion joint in aconcrete slab.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a handpowered machine for installing compressible seals in expansion joints inconcrete slabs.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide amethod of installing compressible seals in expansion joints in concreteslabs.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide amethod of installing a compressible seal in an expansion joint of aconcrete slab with a hand powered machine.

Further objects, advantages and areas of applicability will becomeapparent from the description provided herein. It should be understoodthat the description and specific examples are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged, perspective view of a pavement seal according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a sawn joint in concretepavement which illustrates the initial installation steps according tothe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a pavement seal installed ina sawn joint in concrete pavement which illustrates the finalinstallation steps according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a machine according to the presentinvention for installing pavement seal;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a machine according to thepresent invention for installing pavement seal; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a machine according to the present inventionfor installing pavement seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pavement seal according to thepresent invention is illustrated and generally designated by thereference number 10. The pavement seal 10 is an aerated elastomer foamhaving closed cells 11 and a smooth, i.e. non-perforated, and thereforefluid impervious outer skin. The pavement seal 10 preferably defines around cross section with a nominal diameter, in its relaxed, i.e.,uncompressed, state of approximately 0.437 inches+0.0625 inches−0.00inches (11.1 mm+1.59 mm−0.00 mm). Other multi-sided, for example, six,eight, ten or twelve sided polygonal configurations may be utilized andare within the purview of this invention. This diameter is intended forinstallation in a standard sawn joint, kerf, channel or groove 12 inconcrete pavement 14 having a nominal width of 0.25 inches (6.35 mm).Thus, the diameter of the seal 10 is approximately 1.75 times the widthof the joint or groove 12 or, stated inversely, the width of the jointor groove is approximately 57% of the diameter of the pavement seal 10.This size relationship has been found to provide excellent sealperformance in view of the expansion and contraction of the pavement 14during seasonal temperature changes.

A joint or groove 12 having a sawn width of 0.25 inches may typicallyopen to a maximum width of 0.345 inches (8.76 mm) and close to a minimumwidth of 0.165 inches (4.19 mm) due to thermal expansion and contractionof the concrete pavement 14. Ideally, the width of the joint or groove12 will be approximately 57% of the uncompressed diameter of thepavement seal 10; preferably, the width of the joint or groove 12 willbe in the range of from 52% to 62% of the uncompressed diameter of thepavement seal 10 and the width of the joint or groove 12 in a range of45% to 70% of the uncompressed diameter of the pavement seal 10 isfunctional. It will be appreciated that smaller and larger diameterseals 10 may be utilized with correspondingly narrower and wider jointsor grooves 12 if the ideal 57% relationship, or the preferred orfunctional ranges recited directly above, are adhered to. For example, asawn joint or groove 12 having a width of 0.375 inches (9.52 mm) wouldideally receive a seal 10 having an uncompressed diameter ofapproximately 0.655 inches (16.70 mm)

The pavement seal 10 is a preformed cylinder of indefinite length. Thepavement seal 10, as noted, includes entrained air in closed cells 11.While polychloroprene compounds have been found to provide goodperformance, a selection of elastomers, including polychloroprene,styrene butadiene, acrylonitrile butadiene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, ethylene propylene diene and blends of these materials arealso suitable. The pavement seal 10 preferably has a compressiondeflection, i.e., spring, rate of approximately 2 pounds per inch at 15%compression, a specific gravity of 0.6±0.1 and a density of 37.44 poundsper cubic foot ±3.74. The pavement seal 10 preferably exhibits a Shore Adurometer measurement of 25±5.

The pavement seal 10 according to the present invention is rugged,exhibiting a breaking strength of approximately 200 p.s.i. (1.4 mPa)with an elongation at break of 150%. It will be appreciated that thepavement seal 10 may be manufactured, typically by an extrusion process,in continuous lengths which are cut into pieces several hundred feet inlength for storage and shipment on spools and then cut to desiredlengths at the installation site as will be described in more detailbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a pavement seal installation machine isillustrated and designated by the reference number 20. The pavement sealinstallation machine 20 includes a rectangular lower frame assembly 22typically and preferably fabricated of welded steel or aluminum boxbeams. The rectangular lower frame assembly 22 includes a fronttransverse beam 24, a rear transverse beam 26, a right side beam 28 anda left side beam 32. Received within four blind sockets 34 mounted onthe tops of the right side beam 28 and the left side beam 32 andreleasably secured by clevis pins 36 is an upper, tubular frame assembly40. The tubular frame assembly 40 may be fabricated of a plurality ofstraight tubular sections 42 and right angle end fittings 44 or it mayinclude a pair of U-shaped hoops each formed from a single piece oftubing.

Extending between the upright tubular sections 42 at the front of themachine 20 is a horizontal beam or tube 46 which pivotally receives andsupports a T-bar handle 48. A pair of adjustable stops 50 may be movedvertically along the front upright tubular sections 42 and securedthereto to set the height of the horizontal tube 46 and the T-bar handle48. Extending between the upright tubular sections 42 at the back orrear of the machine 20 is a rectangular panel 52 which locates andsupports a pivotable caster 54 on its outside face. The rectangularpanel 52 is preferably located to provide a stop for the T-bar handle 48when it is in a stowed position as illustrated in FIG. 4. So stowed, theT-bar handle 48 is not only readily accessible but it is also maintainedin a position away from the operating mechanism of the machine 20.

Positioned within the lower frame assembly 22 and capable of bothvertical motion and front to back motion, that is, motion parallel tothe right and left side beams 28 and 32, is a sub-frame or chassis 60.The chassis 60 is coupled to the lower frame assembly 22 by a rightadjustment assembly 62A and a left adjustment assembly 62B. Since theadjustment assemblies 62A and 62B are identical except for their mirrorimage construction and arrangement, only the right adjustment assembly62A will be described.

The right adjustment assembly 62A includes a narrow, L-shaped bracket 64secured to and extending upwardly from the right side beam 28. Thenarrow, L-shaped bracket 64 includes a threaded opening 66 whichreceives a complementarily threaded shaft 68 having a hand or fingerengageable handle or knob 70. At the opposite end of the threaded shaft68 and secured thereto is a chain drive sprocket 72. The chain drivesprocket 72 receives and drives a chain 74 that engages and drives afirst, driven chain sprocket 76 and a second, driven chain sprocket 78.The first, driven chain sprocket 76 rotates on a first threaded rod 82and the second, driven chain sprocket 78 rotates on a second threadedrod 84. The threaded rods 82 and 84 are received within complementarilythreaded stationary nuts 86 or similar threaded components which aresecured to the right side beam 28. Openings (not illustrated) in the topof the right side beam 28 aligned with the stationary nuts 86 allow thethreaded rods 82 and 84 to extend into the right side beam 28. Restingupon the upper faces of the first and second driven chain sprockets 76and 78 is a large, L-shaped bracket 90A which extends upwardly from thechassis 60. The large, L-shaped bracket 90A defines a pair of elongateslots 92 which receive the respective pair of threaded rods 82 and 84.Disposed on each of the threaded rods 82 and 84 above the upper surfaceof the large, L-shaped bracket 90A is a washer 94 and a wing nut 96.

To adjust the front to rear position of the chassis 60 relative to thelower frame assembly 22, the wing nuts 96 of both the right adjustmentassembly 62A and the left adjustment assembly 62B are loosened and thechassis 60 is moved as necessary and the wing nuts 96 are thentightened. To adjust the height of the chassis 60 relative to the lowerframe assembly 22, the wing nuts 96 of both the right adjustmentassembly 62A and the left adjustment assembly 62B are loosened and thehandles or knobs 70 of the adjustment assemblies 62A and 62B arerotated, clockwise to lower the chassis 60 or counter-clockwise to raisethe chassis 60. When the chassis 60 has reached the desired heightrelative to the lower frame assembly 22, the wing nuts 96 are tightened.It will be appreciated that in addition to providing height adjustment,the threaded shaft 68, the chain drive sprocket 72, the chain 74, thefirst, driven chain sprocket 76, the second, driven chain sprocket 78and the threaded rods 82 and 84 maintain the chain 74 in a horizontalplane during height adjustment which obviates binding and chainmisalignment.

The sub-frame or chassis 60 includes the right and left large, L-shapedbrackets 90A and 90B which are connected by a transverse U-shaped strap102. Also extending between the large, L-shaped brackets 90A and 90B isa rotatable shaft 104 having ends which are received within a pair ofbearing assemblies 106. An installation wheel 108 having a plurality ofteeth 110 disposed about its periphery is secured to the middle of theshaft 104 for rotation therewith and a driven chain sprocket 112 issecured to the rotatable shaft 104 adjacent one of the bearingassemblies 106.

At the front of the lower frame assembly 22 is disposed a front guideassembly 120. The front guide assembly 120 includes a forwardly anddownwardly extending bar or arm 122 which is secured to the inside faceof the right side beam 28. At the forward end of the bar or arm 122 is atransversely oriented shaft 124 which extends slightly beyond the middleof the lower frame assembly 22. On the shaft 124 at the transversecenter of the lower frame assembly 22 is a first or forward freelyrotatable guide wheel 126.

At the front or forward end of the lower frame assembly 22, in the rightside beam 28 and the left side beam 32, are a pair of aligned bearings128 which receive a front drive axle 130. Secured to opposite ends ofthe front drive axle 130 are a pair of front or drive wheels 132. Alsosecured to and rotating with the front drive axle 130 is a first chaindrive sprocket 134 which engages and drives a first chain 136. The firstchain 136 engages and drives a first idler sprocket 138. The first idlersprocket 138 is secured to a stub shaft 142 which is received within avertically moveable bushing 144. The vertical position of the bushing144 and thus of the stub shaft 142 is adjustable by a threaded shaft 146which may be fixed in place in an elongate slot 148 in a verticalmounting bracket 152 by a jam nut 154.

Secured to the stub shaft 142 on the opposite side of the verticalmounting bracket 152 is a second idler sprocket 156 which engages anddrives a second chain 158. The second chain 158 engages and drives thedriven chain sprocket 112 on the shaft 104. It will therefore beappreciated that motion of the pavement seal installation machine 20along a surface will rotate the pair of front or drive wheels 132 whichwill rotate the front drive axle 130 and the first chain drive sprocket134. In turn, the first drive chain 136 and the second drive chain 158will circulate, rotating the driven chain sprocket 112 and the toothedinstallation wheel 108 on the shaft 104. The diameters of the front ordrive wheels 132, the chain sprockets 134, 138, 156 and 112 and theinstallation wheel 108 are such that the surface speed of theinstallation wheel 108 is slightly faster than the surface speed of thefront or drive wheels 132.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, secured to the front transverse beam 24by any suitable means such as a threaded stud are a pair of right andleft speed increasing gear boxes 160A and 160B. The speed increasinggear boxes 160A and 160B preferably provide a drive ratio of 2 to 3,that is, two turns at the input result in three turns at the output. Itshould be understood that this ratio may be adjusted up or down toaccommodate other variations in the installation machine 20. The rightand left gear boxes 160A and 160B are coupled to and driven by the frontdrive axle 130. The gear boxes 160A and 160B are opposite in sense. Asviewed in FIG. 5, with clockwise (forward) rotation of the front wheels132 and the front drive axle 130, the output of the right gear box 160Ais counter-clockwise when viewed from above and the output of the leftgear box 160B is clockwise when viewed from above.

The outputs of the gear boxes 160A and 160B are provided to right andleft gears or cogged wheels 162A and 162B, respectively, which engage arespective pair of right and left timing belts 164A and 164B. The righttiming belt 164A engages and circulates counter-clockwise about a right,first idler wheel 166A and a right, second, equal diameter idler wheel168A. The right, first idler wheel 166A and the right, second idlerwheel 168A are freely rotatably disposed on sleeve bearings and stubshafts 170A secured to a right U-shaped plate 172A which, in turn, isattached to the right L-shaped bracket 90A through an intermediatemember 174A by suitable fasteners.

The left timing belt 164B engages and circulates clockwise about a left,first idler wheel 166B and a left, second, equal diameter idler wheel168B. The left, first idler wheel 166B and the left, second idler wheel168B are freely rotatably disposed on sleeve bearings and stub shafts170B secured to a left U-shaped plate 172B which, in turn, is attachedto the left L-shaped bracket 90B through an intermediate member 174B bysuitable fasteners. The opposed surfaces of the right timing belt 164Aand the left timing belt 164B are spaced apart a distance which isgreater than the thickness of the toothed installation wheel 108 toallow it free motion therebetween but less than the diameter of thepavement seal 10 so that they engage and compress it.

The opposed rotation and travel of the timing belts 164A and 164B andtheir spacing at the middle of the machine 20 draws the pavement seal 10(illustrated in FIG. 1) through the machine 20 as will be more fullydescribed below. The drive ratios from the front drive wheels 132,through the gear boxes 160A and 160B and through the cogged wheels 162Aand 162B to the timing belts 164A and 164B are such that the surfacespeed of the front drive wheels 132 is the same as the surface speed ofthe timing belts 164A and 164B. Accordingly, the pavement seal 10 isdrawn into the installation machine 20 and fed to the toothedinstallation wheel 108 without either axial stretching or compression.

On the outside faces of the right side beam 28 and the left side beam 32are mounted a pair of rear wheels 176. The rear wheels 176 are rotatablydisposed upon stub shafts or axles 178 which are secured to therespective beams 28 and 32. Disposed in the middle of the reartransverse beam 26 in alignment with the toothed installation wheel 108and the front rotatable guide wheel 126 is a rear guide wheel 180rotatably mounted in a clevis 182. It will be appreciated that the frontrotatable guide wheel 126, the toothed installation wheel 108 and therear rotatable guide wheel 180 all cooperate to maintain theinstallation machine 20 in alignment with a joint or groove 12 in theconcrete pavement 14 to facilitate proper and efficient installation.Furthermore, the rear guide wheel 180 sets the seal 10 to the finaldesired depth in the joint or groove 12.

The installation process will now be described in connection with FIGS.2, 3 and 4. Joints or grooves 12 are cut by a saw (not illustrated) inthe concrete pavement 14. The joints or grooves 12 are cut to a minimumof 25% of the thickness of the concrete pavement 14 and preferably to adepth of 33% of the thickness. After the necessary joints or grooves 12have been cut in the pavement 14 and any debris has been blown out ofthe joints or grooves 12 with compressed air from an air compressor orpressurized water from a power washer through, for example, a nozzle 16,a length of the pavement seal 10 according to the present invention islaid along the full length of the joint or groove 12.

Next, a lubricating, soapy solution of, for example, undiluted liquidhand dish washing soap or vegetable oil soap is applied by a spray head18 to the pavement seal 10 or the walls of the joint or groove 12immediately prior to installation of the seal 10. Then, the frontrotatable guide wheel 126, the toothed installation wheel 108 and therear rotatable guide wheel 180 are placed or located in the joint orgroove 12 with the front guide wheel 126 toward the direction ofinstallation and travel. The pavement seal 10 is then inserted betweenthe timing belts 164A and 164B and the installation machine 20 is movedby hand along the joint or groove 12. The toothed installation wheel 108rotates and installs the pavement seal 10 to the proper depth of between0.125 inches (3.17 mm) and 0.50 inches (12.7 mm) in the joint or groove12. It is highly desirable that the pavement seal 10 experiences no morethan approximately 4% stretch or elongation during the installationprocess and preferably less.

As stated, the pavement seal 10 should be installed with its uppersurface between about 0.125 inches (3.17 mm) and 0.50 inches (12.7 mm)below the surface of the concrete pavement 14. To achieve this preferreddepth of installation, it may be necessary to adjust the height of thetoothed installation wheel 108 and the second guide wheel 180 relativeto the top surface of the pavement 14, that is, the depth of penetrationof the toothed installation wheel 108 and the second guide wheel 180into the joint or groove 12. The toothed installation wheel 108 isadjusted by using the right and left adjustment assemblies 62A and 62B,as described above. The height of the second guide wheel 180 is adjustedby repositioning the clevis 182.

As noted above, pavement seals having both larger and smaller diametersthan the diameter of the pavement seal 10 recited herein forcorrespondingly larger and smaller joints or grooves are within thepurview of the present invention. Preferably, the width of the joint orgroove into which the pavement seal will be installed is approximately57% of the diameter of the pavement seal in its uncompressed(uninstalled) state. However, as noted above, the pavement seal may beinstalled in a joint or groove 12 having a width a little as 45% to asmuch as 70% of the uncompressed diameter of the pavement seal withacceptable results.

Before and after installation of the pavement seal 10, the installationmachine 20 is readily moved about by tipping it onto the two rear wheels176 (which extend beyond the ends of the side beams 28 and 32) and thecaster 54. The T-bar handle 48 may then also be utilized to convenientlymaneuver the installation machine 20. So disposed, the likelihood ofdamage to the guide wheels 126 and 180 and the toothed installationwheel 108 is minimized. Moreover, if care is taken to tip theinstallation machine 20 upright over the joint or groove 12 such thatthe guide wheels 126 and 180 and the toothed installation wheel 108 arereceived within the joint or groove 12, little or no adjustment orresetting of the adjustment assemblies 62A and 62B should be necessaryand the likelihood of damage to the wheels 108, 126 and 180 is furtherreduced.

It should be appreciated that in addition to facilitating heightadjustment of the chassis 60 relative to the frame 22, the front to backadjustment also provided by the adjustment assemblies 62A and 62Bfacilitates tightening, loosening and replacement of the timing belts164A and 164B.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature andvariations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from either the spirit or the scope ofthe invention or the following claims.

1. An installation machine for pavement seals comprising, incombination, a frame having a front pair of wheels, a rear pair ofwheels, a front guide wheel and an aligned rear guide wheel, a chassisdisposed within said rectangular frame, a pair of adjustment assembliesoperably disposed between said frame and said chassis, an installationwheel rotatably disposed on said chassis between said guide wheels, afront axle coupled to said front pair of wheels, a pair of gear boxesdriven by said front axle and having a pair of oppositely rotatingoutputs, and a pair of oppositely circulating belts driven by saidoppositely rotating outputs.
 2. The installation machine of claim 1further including means for driving said installation wheel from saidfront axle.
 3. The installation machine of claim 1 further including aninterconnected tubular frame extending from said rectangular frame. 4.The installation machine of claim 1 wherein said adjustment assembliesinclude means for vertical and horizontal adjustment.
 5. Theinstallation machine of claim 1 wherein said adjustment assembliesinclude threaded shafts rotated by chain sprockets engaged by a chain.6. The installation machine of claim 1 wherein said installation wheelincludes teeth about its periphery.
 7. The installation machine of claim1 wherein said gear box outputs include cogged wheels and furtherincluding a pair of idler wheels associated with each said output andsaid belt.
 8. A seal installation machine for concrete pavementcomprising, in combination, a frame having a front pair of wheels, arear pair of wheels and at least one guide wheel, a chassis disposedwithin said frame, a pair of adjustment assemblies connecting said frameand said chassis, an installation wheel rotatably disposed on saidchassis, a front axle coupled to said front pair of wheels, means fordriving said installation wheel from said front axle, means driven bysaid front axle for providing a pair of oppositely rotating outputs, anda pair of oppositely circulating belts driven by said outputs andadapted to engage a seal.
 9. The seal installation machine of claim 8further including a tubular frame secured to said frame and including acaster and a handle.
 10. The seal installation machine of claim 8wherein said installation wheel includes teeth about its periphery. 11.The seal installation machine of claim 8 wherein said oppositelyrotating outputs include cogged wheels.
 12. The seal installationmachine of claim 8 wherein said means for driving said installationwheel includes a first chain sprocket secured to said front axle, asecond chain sprocket and a third chain sprocket secured to a stubshaft, a fourth chain sprocket secured to a shaft coupled to saidinstallation wheel, a first chain engaging said first and said secondchain sprockets and a second chain engaging said third and said fourthchain sprockets.
 13. The seal installation machine of claim 12 furtherincluding means for moving said stub shaft toward and away from saidchassis.
 14. A seal for installation in sawn joints in concrete pavementcomprising, in combination, an elongate cylindrical body of an aerated,closed cell elastomer having a diameter of less than one-half inch,specific gravity between 0.50 and 0.70 and a Shore A hardness of between20 and
 30. 15. The seal for installation in sawn joints in concretepavement of claim 14 wherein said diameter is approximately 0.44 inches.16. The seal for installation in sawn joints in concrete pavement ofclaim 14 having a spring rate of approximately 2 pounds per inch.
 17. Amethod of installing a seal in sawn joints in concrete pavementcomprising the steps of removing debris from a sawn joint in concretepavement, lubricating such sawn joint with a soap solution, providing alength of a cylindrical pavement seal and aligning said seal with saidjoint, aligning an installation wheel with said joint, and translatingand rotating said installation wheel along said joint to force said sealinto said joint.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said installationwheel extends into said joint.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein saiddebris is removed by air or water under pressure.
 20. The method ofclaim 17 wherein said length of pavement seal is equal to or longer thana length of said joint.